Chapter 5: Duel
(Author notes: Thank you to everyone who's reading so far this is my first novel and seeing that over 500 people have viewed my book fills me with gratitude. Thank you all once again.)
On the day of my fifth birthday things were very different to my past birthdays. In preparation for my birthday I needed to write a speech that I would be giving to several members of nobility in our country but also to the members of nobility from other countries as well. Realising how important this task would be I had to think long and hard about what to write so as not to embarrass my parents and household as a whole.
As I was struggling over what to write Derigo told me, 'You do realise you are five years old. The people aren't expecting a masterpiece, I believe the point of this would be to introduce yourself but also to show your intelligence. If you make too good of a speech people might actually end up causing you trouble over it.' Realising she was right I release a sigh as I start to write an introductory speech like Derigo suggested. While writing the speech I decided to start learning the most important figures in attendance as to ensure I can write to greet them.
After writing the speech I was originally trying to memorise everything but I found out that Derigo could memorise most information and could relay it to me at any moment.
During my party all the important figures appeared with their children at the foot of the staircase to the second floor where I was currently being led to from the other side of the second floor. Once at the staircase I was expected to give my speech to the people downstairs, asking Derigo to read the speech to me I started to address the audience who await my coming speech, "Greetings my fellow countryman and those who made the long journey from outside of our country, I am Levi Animo and today I'm five years old, I would like to thank you all for coming. In particular I would like to thank Lord Rex Calidus and Lady Evangeline Mundities for coming, I know that as the key figures of our country it must be hard for you to have found any free time but then spent it coming to my humble selves birthday. I hope that we can all get along in order to strengthen ties, not only between countries but also the different nobility of our own country. I'm sure you are all curious to know more about me so I'll keep my profile short, I am a young boy who enjoys reading and what the head maid Norma calls 'laziness' and while I'm slightly inclined to agree I look at it more as being a bit more chilled out than other children. I would like to once again thank everyone for attending my party and wish you all the best of fortunes." Once finishing my speech I see the stunned looks on everyone's faces, as I start panicking I hear Derigo giggling confused I ask, 'What's funny do you think I did something wrong?' After asking my question Derigo starting outright laughing.
After calming down she told me, 'I believe the are all just stunned by your speech after all you are supposed to be five.' Realising I might have gone overboard I start to worry that someone will cause a problem over it. However, as if to dash away my worries I heard someone start clapping, looking to see who started clapping I see Lord Calidus was the one to clap who was quickly followed by Lady Evangeline Mundities. After which prompted everyone present to start clapping, feeling relieved I released a sigh. At the same time as my sigh I get patted on the back, turning around I see my parents who is followed by head maid Norma and my teacher Flos Sapit, seeing them I smiled for only a second but ended up quickly turning serious as my father directed me downstairs.
After the applause finished I got to speak to the other children and I found out that most of them were annoying brats especially the foreign noble's children.
I had given up on making any friends until I met the son of a noble who's main income is agriculture, to begin with I wanted to meet the noble himself as he had a reputation of being a benevolent Lord who did his best for his people and his family.
Not only did he introduce laws in his land that increased the overall quality of life that his citizens, he also introduced methods of increasing crop yields while also making the process of growing them easier like having cattle till the land rather than doing it by hand. Finally, and to me most importantly he set up a governmental system in his territory where a leader could be chosen to represent the people and propose changes and provide general information to himself so that he could ensure his people can live happily and that he knows what each family needs.
These reasons were enough for me to believe that he would be the most progressive person to speak to in regards of trying to advance this worlds culture. The reason I decided on progressing the world was because at first I simply wanted to have a bath without having to get several maids just to prepare it. Later on however I discovered that the quality of life for the common people was in many ways unacceptable. People considered a one room cottage for an entire family to be acceptable, while if it only had one hole in its roof then it would be considered a high end property.
So my goal is to make what should be standardly available to everyone, in my mind, the acceptable minimum of people in this world.
While this goal was a way off I wanted to gain input from the man considered the benevolent Lord. And due to me being to young and too lazy I've decide that the benevolent Lord Nicholas Silva would be the best person to have actually carry out this task while I guide him in the right direction.
After meeting the Lord he introduced me to his son, who I expected to be a brat like the rest, and was pleasantly surprised to see that the boy was kind and gentle. As he peaked round his father I could see his dark green hair and olive skin while he still had baby fat across his body. Seeing the boy I couldn't help thinking he resembled his father minus the fact the kid was slightly overweight. When I finished appraising him I heard his soft voice as he said, "Umm, My name is Alta Silva but people usually call me Al. I thought your speech was amazing I hope that when I do mine it will be as good as yours." After listening to his honest praise I said, "Thank you. My name is Levi Animo, I hope we can get along in the future."
Once we had finished introducing ourselves we talked about a few things and continued to spend time like that. Until one of the other children came over with his posey and started picking on Al, in his rather low for a five year olds voice he said, "Why is the generals son talking to the piggy of the worthless family of Silva? Hmm is it that you enjoy playing with the animals? Kikikikiki, why don't you join us? After all my family is loaded!" Seeing the snake like boy I said in my noblest tone loud enough for everyone to hear, "Why should I hang around you? I prefer to keep my hands clean and I'm worried that if I spend time with you my hands might get slimy. Now if you have finished I would ask that you leave us because we were discussing different herbs and their uses in potions. Additionally, if you continue to insult my friend and his family I will take reactive measures." Seeing my blatant criticism of the boy the entire party watched intently to see how things play out.
The boy, clearly unable to handle the insult in my words, had turned red and I could even see a vein bulge on his head as he said, "HOW DARE YOU! I AM MICHAEL GAZA! I AM THE MOST TALENTED GENIUS OF OUR GENERATION INSANELY WEALTHY AND YOU MOCK MY PROPOSAL TO MAKE YOU MY SUBORDINATE? YOU MUST HAVE A DEATH WISH! I CHALLENGE BOTH LEVI ANIMO AND ALTA SILVA TO A DUEL! WHAT SAY YOU?"
Seeing his tantrum, I felt only contempt for the unreasonable kid and after five years of relative boredom I can't just refuse such an exciting proposal. With a giddy smile creeping across my face I replied to the snake, "A duel sounds fun. If you wanna fight I'll beat you down into a bloody mess. But if you want to fight then I suggest that I fight you and whoever would be your partner, alone I feel it would be too easy otherwise."
Hearing my words everyone gasped and Michael had a cruel smile on his face as he said, "I guess you really do wish for death. I'll be glad to grant your foolish wish. After you get your magic unsealed we can fight then. I'm will to wait to kill you." Thinking to myself this kid had a strange obsession with the idea of killing for a five year old, I started thinking over my opinions on how to humiliate him further than winning one against two. Realising my best choice I said to him, "hmph as if I need magic to beat you. I say we duel now." Seeing that everyone's expressions went from tense to blank I believe that I achieved my goal. However, as if to save me my mother steps in and says, "Levi I forbid you from taking such reckless actions. Apologise now and put this behind you." Noting my mothers disproval I said, "Normally, I would do as you say mother however after he not only insulted my friend but that friends family, I could never back down. Please understand." Seeing my resolve my mother conceded for the first time in my life.
After preparations were completed we followed the servants to a practice field at the back of the house. However, what surprised me was the fact we had a practice field. Seeing my surprise Head maid Norma said, "Your father had this constructed recently to be used for your training." Hearing her speak what I focused on was that this was the first time she spoke to or even around me, so I said to her, "That's the first time I've ever heard you speak, you have a lovely voice. I hope we can talk more in the future." Instead of seeming happy she turned very serious and said, "A maid should be seen not heard." Saying this, her expression turned slightly gentler as she continued, "But if it's my young masters wish then I can speak more." Smiling at how apparently gentle she is I said, "I'd like that."
Arriving at the practice field Michael and his lackey stand in what looks like a hide armour and hold wooden swords in their hands. Realising I have no skill with a sword I feel a pang of regret as I look at the prepared practice weapons. Feeling like I would be unable to uses any of the weapons due to my lack in training my eyes wander until they land on a pair of small short and thin blades. Deciding that I could uses them to improve the minor combat abilities I pick up the two metallic scalpel like blades.
Returning to the centre of the practice grounds I begin stretching as I plan my strategy. Considering I have only one point in strength I would be unable to win the fight through force so I planned to use my relatively high dexterity to get into favourable positions. I would fully take advantage of the people with healing magic to ensure a victory that would let me win without leaving any lasting damage, on their bodies at least.
Just before we start the fight Michael started laughing saying I'm an idiot for choosing the smallest blades just because the were sharp. Choosing to ignore his obvious provocations I just grip my blades as the referee begins her countdown.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone